Garment conveyor



y 1961 R. E. CAMPBELL ErAL 2,983,393

GARMENT CONVEYOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1958 o n Kw M 8 0 LI- myi H j. m m I%I%\ F? W ,2 M Z M I Zl. 5 N V a mm w 9 N ll Z m M w T A52: 7 1 mm 4 mm\ May 9, 1961 I R. E. CAMPBELL ETAL 2,933,393

GARMENT CONVEYOR Filed March 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 37 Bob INVENTOR.

AoLL/N E. CAMPBELL BY Hnaer D. Foes/=- y 1961 R. E. CAMPBELL ETAL2,983,393

GARMENT CONVEYOR Filed March 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR. Eon/1v E. Cxm asu y HAPPY D. F0885 y 1961 R. E. CAMPBELL ETAL2,983,393

GARMENT CONVEYOR .5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 5, 1958 INVENTOR. F0441E. (kw/P554; 1 /422) 0. F023:

United States Patent 9 2,983,393 GARMENT CONVEYOR Rollin E. Campbell,Anderson, Ind, and Harry D. Forse,

220 Woods'Road, Anderson, 1114].; said Campbell assignor to said ForseFiled Mar. 3,1958, ser. No. 718,891

13 Claims. c1. sis-16.4

The present invention relates to conveyors and, more specifically, toconveyors. for laundry and dry cleaning establishments.

In order to facilitate the handling of garments to be cleaned and of thecleaned garments, it is known to employ conveyorswhich have anendlesstrack with hanger bracket assemblies movable on said track. These hangerbracket assemblies are provided with openings for redrag on the floorwhile on the other hand the operator of the conveyor can easily suspendthe respective hanger in or remove the same from the hanger bracketassembly.

Inasmuch as conveyors of the above mentioned type, in order to be of anypractical use, have to be able to handle a considerable quantity ofgarments, they must be equipped with a relatively long track, whichmeans that considerable new space is required for such conveyors.Inasmuch as dry cleaning establishments as a rule also comprise alaundry department and, therefore, require considerable floor space forstoring the cleaned packaged laundry for pickup by the customer, itstands to reason that the total floor space required for a dry cleaningand laundry establishment is considerable and greatly affects thefacilities and overhead of a dry cleaning and laundry establishment.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide agarment conveyor for garments such as dresses, blouses, suits and thelike, which, without requiring more floor space, will also be ablesimultaneously with and additionally to the handling of garments of theabove mentioned type to handle and convey cleaned packaged laundry.

It is another object of this invention to provide 'a conveyor equippedboth with facilities for suspending garments and with shelves forsupporting Washed laundry ready for pickup by the customer, in which thegarments as well as the washed laundry can easily be reached by theoperator of the conveyor from the floor, while the conveyor will be ableto support as great a number of Fig. 1 is a partial view of a conveyoraccording to the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the drive for the conveyor.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates partly in side view and partly in section the controlmechanism which will make it possible to stop the conveyor atpre-selected points.

Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of a shelf assembly orlaundry basketaccording to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a view of Fig. 5 seen in the direction of the l horizontalarrow in Fig. 5, a portion of the shelf assembly I being omitted for thesake of clarity.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the tiltable suspension for the laundry basketor shelf invention. n n

Fig. 8 is a front view of the dial of the pre-selectorand stoppingmechanism with a portion broken out of the dial to show the mechanismtherebehind.

Fig. 9 illustrates a side view and partially a section of thepre-selector and stopping mechanism of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the bottom portion of the shelf assembly shownin Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 shows partly in section the locking system for locking the shelfassembly in its elevated position.

Fig. 12 is a front view and partly a section of the top portion of theshelf assembly of Fig. 5.

General arrangement The primary feature of the present inventionconsists in that on top of the hanger bracket assemblies or on top ofthe track there are arranged shelf assemblies or laundry baskets whichare so suspended that they can easily be grasped by an operator standingin front thereof and can be pulled down to such an extent that theoperator can reach all of the shelves of the respective laundry: basketwithout leaving the floor. In conformity with a preferred form of thepresent invention, the said laundry baskets or shelf assemblies areunder 'the action of springs which normally hold the laundry basketsstationary in their lifted-up position but which will not exert' anymaterial counter force to the operators effort in pulling the basketdown into easy reach of the operator.

While the shelf assemblies or laundry baskets may be of difierentconvenient type, according to a highly advantageous structure of thepresent invention, the laundry baskets are made of individual rods so asto be of light weight with the shelves detachably mounted on supportsgarments as is customary with a conveyor of the floor space involved.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a conveyor ofthe type set forth in the preceding para-' connected to said rods. Thus,if it is necessary to support a high package on a laundry basket, allthat has to be done is to remove one or the other shelf therefrom so asnot to interfere with the height of the respective basket to besupported by the respective shelf assembly.

According to a further feature of the invention, each of the laundrybaskets or shelf assemblies is supported by a hanger bracket assembly soas to move in unison therewith. Thus, while the hanger bracketassemblies move along the respective track of the garment conveyor, theycarry along the shelf assemblies respectively mounted thereon. In thisWay it is, for instance, possible to place the garments of a customer ona hanger bracket assembly and to place the laundry of the same customerin the laundry basket or shelfassembly directly above said lastvmentioned hanger bracket assembly. This considerably facilitiesthe'handling of the respective 'customers goods and the picking up ofsaid goods by the respective customer. This will also facilitate theentire service.

In order further to facilitate and to speedup the handling and inparticular the pickup of the respective goods by the customer, .thedrive for the conveyor according to the present invention has associatedtherewith a selector mechanism which carries a dial with a pluralityassembly according to the of numbers or letters corresponding to numbersor letters on each of said hanger bracket assemblies. If the operator isgiven a list of the names of the customers whose garments and/or laundryare on the conveyor together with a list of the numbers or letters ofthe respective hanger bracket assembliescarrying the customers goods,the operator is able to adjust the pre-selector in such a way that theconveyor will come to a stop when the respective hanger bracket assemblyand/or shelf is directly adjacent the operator. In this way, theoperator is able to hand out the respective garments and/or laundrywithout leaving her place. If desired, the laundry baskets or shelfassemblies may have, letters or numbers dificrent from those of thehanger bracket: assemblies if customers have only garments but nolaundry, or vice versa, to pick up. The pre-selector will then beequipped with corresponding numbers or letters so that: it will stillbe, possible by mere actuation of the pie-selector to. bring therespective desired shelf assembly and hanger bracket assembly to a stopin front of'the operator.

Structural arrangement Referring now to the drawings in detail and Fig.1 thereof in particular, the arrangement shown therein comprises standsor supports 21 each of which has a foot 22 (one only being shown) witharms 23. Each arm has connected thereto a sleeve 24 threaded on theinside thereof and engaged by a correspondingly threaded bolt with head25 for adjustment of the level of said arms so as to be able to adjustthe stands 21 in conformity with the level of the floor. The stands 21support an endless track generally designated .26 on which are movablymounted a plurality of serially arranged hanger bracket assembliesgenerally designated 27. Each of said hanger bracket assemblies carriesa basket support assembly generally designated 28 on which is tiltablysuspended a shelf assembly or basket 29 which can selectively be loweredfrom its position above the respective bracket assembly downwardly tosuch an extent that the goods thereon will be within easy reach of theoperator.

Construction of hanger bracket assembly The hanger bracket assemblygenerally designated 27 comprises a hanger bracket 30 of a somewhatblunted V- shap'e. More specifically, the hanger bracket comprises asubstantially vertical portion 30a with longitudinal openings 30btherein (Fig. 3) and also comprises a substantially horizontal portion390 with horizontally extending openings 38d. The openings 30d arerespectively aligned with the openings 30b. The openings 3% and 30dserve for receiving the hook of a hanger (see Figs. 1 and Morespecifically, while an opening Stlb receives the rear portion of thehanger hook, the respective adjacent opening 30d receives the frontportion of said hanger hook.

Each hanger bracket 30 furthermore comprises a downwardly inclined wall36s the lower end of which merges with a horizontal portion 303.Similarly, the upper end of the vertical wall 30a merges with anupwardly inclined portion 30g which is provided with a groove-likedepression 3% and merges with a substantially horizontal portion 30i.The groove-like depression 36h is provided with a slot 30f (Fig. 11)

Connected to the lower horizontal portion 30 of the bracket 30, forinstance by spot welding, is a flat bar or link 31. Similarly, a flatbar or link 32 is connected to the substantially horizontal portion 3%of the bracket 30. The fixed link 31 has at each of its ends a bore (notshown) through which extends a bolt 33 having pivotally connectedthereto one end of a link 34 the other end of which is pivotallyconnected to the adjacent bolt 33 of the adjacent bracket 3%. In thisway all brackets are linked to each other. The bolt 33 has furthermorepreferably rotatably arranged thereon a ring 35 for a purpose which willbe explained further below. Likewise mounted on bolt 33 is a stirrup 36carrying two space rollers 37, 38

.in its normal or rest position.

for rolling engagement with the two. endless rails 26a, 26b forming thetrack 26. Preferably each of the rollers 37, 33 is composed of twoportions 37a, 37b, 38a, 38b as will be particularly clearly seen fromFig. 3. The upper end of the stirrup 36 is connected to a bolt 39 whichsupports a similar construction as the bolt 33 and extends through thesubstantially horizontal portion 30i of the bracket 39, a ring 40,, alinkv 41 and. the flat bar or fixed link 32. That end of link 41which'is remote from the just described bolt 39 is pivotally connectedto' the adjacent corresponding bolt 39 of the, adjacent hanger bracket30.

Basket assembly Each of the basket assemblies as shown. in Figs. 1 and 5comprises a supporting member or bottom tube 42 which extends throughthe portions 30i and 30 of the respective hanger bracket supporting saidbottom tube 42. The bottom tube 42 is connected to the respectivebracket in any convenient manner for instance by welding or by clampingrings. In order to connect the lower tube 42 to the hanger bracket *30so that the tube 42 cannot rotate relative thereto, the tube 42 hasfixedly connected thereto a hook-shaped member 43 which engages acorresponding opening (not shown) in the top portion 391' of the bracket30. The upper end of the bottom tube 42 carries a pivot 44 pivotallysupporting an upper tube 45 with a bent upper portion 45a. Thearrangement is such that the upper tube 45 is continuously urged toassume the position shown in Fig. 5. T 0 this end, the lower tube 42 hasconnected thereto a bracket 46 engaged by one end of a tension spring 47the upper end of which engages a bracket 48 connected in any convenientmanner for instance by welding to the upper tube 45. The spring 47continuously urges the upper tube 45 to tilt in. counter-clockwisedirection. The free end of the bent upper portion 45a has connectedthereto a tube" 49. The ends of the tube 49 are arranged pivotally toreceive studs or trunnions 50- arranged at the upper end of the basketgenerally designated 29. While the basket itself may be of anyconvenient structure, according to the drawings showing a preferredstructure the basket is designed as a wire basket. More specifically,each basket comprises a base wire frame portion 52 and a top wire frameportion 53. The said top and bottom frame portions are interconnected byvertical wires 54, 55, 56. According to the specific showing in thedrawing, the front wires 55 are integral with the top frame portion 53.The vertical rear wires 56 extend downwardly somewhat further than thewires 54 and 55 and additionally are respectively bent toward oppositesides so as to form bent portions 56a which are substantially inalignment with each other. The arrangement is such that when the basketis suspended by means of the studs or trunnions 50 in the upper tube 45,the said bent portions 56a will be parallel to the groove-likedepression 30h which latter will-receive the bent wire portions 56a whenthe respective basket is The vertical wires are furthermore connected toeach other by horizontal stirrupshaped wires 57 which serve as shelfsupports for removable shelves 58, 59. These shelves may be of anyconvenient structure preferably as. illustrated in Fig. 5. According tothe specific structure shown in Fig. 5, each of the shelves comprises asubstantially rectangularly shaped wire with the front end slightlytilted upwardly (see right.- hand side of the shelves shown in Fig. 5).The front and rear ends of the shelves are furthermore interconnected bya plurality of thin wires 58a, 59a. Below the wires 53a, 59athere is atransverse wire 60 which extends slightly beyond the sides of theshelves and in downward direction. The transverse wire 60 is so locatedthat when the respective shelf is mounted on the shelf support, thedownwardly protruding portions 60a of the-wire 60 will engage theadjacent wires of the shelf support and will engage from behind thevertical wires of the basket. In

this way, the shelf will be properly clamped upon' the respective shelfsupport. In order to prevent an accidental lifting of the shelf from therespective shelf support, eachrshelf is additionally provided with ahook 61 at the rear end thereof which catches beneath a horizontal rearwire of the shelf support. This firmly secures the respective shelf onthe basket. The lowermost removable shelf 59 differs from the othershelf 58 merely in that the hook 61 of the shelves 58 is replaced by ahook-shaped loop 62 through which extends a latch rod 63 having a handle63a. Therod '63 furthermore extends through aloop 64 which is connectedto the transverse wire 60 of the lower shelf. That portion 63b of thelatch rod 63 which extends through the hook-shaped loop 62 is bent so asto be sub stantially parallel to the handle 63a for locking engagementwith the slot 30 in the respective hanger bracket 30 (see Fig. 11). Theslot 30f is symmetrically arranged ,withregard to the latch rod 63 andhas a length slightly longer than twice the length of the bent portion63b so that the latter can be swung into the slot from either side. Whenthe bent portion 63b is in its vertical position, it extends through theslot 301' and thereby firmly latches or locks the basket to therespective hanger bracket.

Conveyor drive 'The drive for'the conveyor according to the presentinvention substantially comprises an electric motor 65, preferably areversible motor so as to be able to drive the conveyor in eitherdirection. The motor 65 has a motor shaft 66 to which is keyed a pulley67. The pulley 67 is drivingly connected to a pulley 68 by means of abelt 69. The pulley 68 is keyed to a shaft 70 which is rotatablyjournalled in bearings (not shown) within a tubular member 71 connectedto a frame structure F (Fig. 4) which supports the endless track and isitself supported by the stands 21. Also keyed to the shaft 70 is apulley 72 which through a belt 73 drives a' pulley 74 keyedto a shaft75. The shaft 75 is journalled in bearings 76 (one only being shown)which are connected to a tubular member 77 surrounding'the shaft 75. Thetubular member 77 is adjustably journalled in the frame structure Fsupported by the stands 21 in order to allow the proper tensioning ofthe belt 73. To this end, the said frame structure F is provided withbrackets 78 and adjusting bolts 79. It is, of course, understood thatthe adjustment of the tubular member 77 and thereby the bearings 76 andpulley 74 may also be elfected in any other convenient manner. Keyed tothe upper end of the shaft 75 is a sprocket'80 (Fig. 3) whichby means ofa chain 81 is drivingly connected to a sprocket =82. The sprocket 8-2 iskeyed to a shaft 83 which has keyed thereto two substantially identicaldiscs or wheels 84 and 85. Each of said discs is provided with recesses86 (see Fig. 2) for engagement with the rings 35. It will thus beevident that when the discs or wheels 84, 85- are rotated, theirrecesses 86 will engage the respective adjacent rings 35 and therebywill move said rings and through the intervention of the respectivestirrup '36 will move the respective bracket 30 over the rounded trackportion at the adjacent end of the conveyor. Inasmuch as the otherbracket assemblies are connected with the respective bracket assemblymoving over the just mentioned rounded track portion, all of the bracketassemblies will be moved.

Drive control In order to make it possible for an operator to removefrom the conveyor or place on the conveyor garments and laundry from oneand the same service spot or station, it-is necessary that the operatorbe able to control the drive of the conveyor in such a way that therespective hanger bracket assembly and/ or the respective basketassembly to be loaded or unloaded will always stop precisely at the,same station, i.e. at the place of the operator. To this end, all hangerbrackets and, if desired, also all baskets are numbered which numbersalso appear in identicalsequence on a control dial. In conformity withthe showing in Fig. 1,: the hanger brackets are consecutively numberedfrom 1 to 20 (onlythe figures 5 to 14 are visible), and correspondingnumbers appear on the control dial 87. Each number on the control dialhas associated therewith. a bore 88 adapted to receive a contactbreaking pin 89 forcooperation with micro-switches 90, 91 of anystandard type depending on whether the dial rotates in clockwisedirection or in counter-clockwise direction. The micro-switches areelectrically connected with electric motor 65. The control dial 87 isdrivingly connected to the shaft (Fig. 4) through a flexible shaft 92and a gear train 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and shaft 99. The gear train isenclosed in a housing 100 supported by a. stand 101. Thus, if it isdesired tostop the conveyor in such away that when the conveyor stops, acertainbracket assembly for instance bracket assembly 5, will beadjacent the operator, it is merely necessary to place the contactbreaking pin 89 in the bore 88 associated with the number 5 on thecontrol dial 87. The dial Will then rotate with the shaft 75 and,consequently, also the contact breaking pin 89 will rotate with the dial87. c The transmission ratio between the conveyor belt drive and thedrive for the dial 87 is suchthat when the conveyor has made acompleteturn, also the dial 87 has made a complete turn. Furthermore,the numbers and the holes pertaining thereto on the dial are coordinatedwith the correspondingly numbered hanger brackets in such a way thatwhen the contact breaking pin breaks the contact of the respectivemicro-switch, the hanger assembly corre sponding in number to the numberof the bore on the dial through which the breaking pin extends will beadjacent the operator. Thus, assuming the above example that thebreakingpin is placed through the hole 88 associated with the number 5 on thedial, the breaking pin will break the contact for the driving motor whenthe bracket as-' sembly Sis adjacent the operator. It is a matter ofcourseously. The housing 100 furthermore carries a forward switch Fadapted when actuated to start the motor 65 in forward direction.Finally, there is provided a rearward switch R likewise electricallyconnected with the motor 65 and adapted when actuated to start the motorin rearward direction. The starting of the motor in rearward directionand thereby the rotation of the conveyor in rearward direction issometimes advantageous with regard to the saving of time if, forinstance, following the position shown in "Fig. 1, the hanger bracketassembly 6 or 7 is to be moved into a position adjacent the operator. Ifthe conveyor could move only forwardly, the conveyor would under suchcircumstances have to make almost a complete turn, whereas if theconveyor can be moved in rearward direction the conveyor has to be movedonly by the length of one or two hanger brackets respectively. 7

Operation Assuming that a garment 103 on a bracket 5 is at a stationoccupied by the bracket 14 in Fig. l and that some laundry pertaining tothe owner of the garment 103 is on a basket 51 above the bracket 5. Inorder to move the garment 103 and the basket on top thereof to theservice station i.e. the station where the operator is located, theoperator places the breaking pin into the bore 88 associated with thenumber 5 on the dial 87 and then presses the push button F; The conveyorwill then begin its movement and will, as indicated above, due to thebreaking of the micro-switch by the breaking pin 89 come to a standstillwhen the hanger bracket assembly has ae'ease's reached the servicestation as shown in Fig. 1. The operator then can easily remove thegarment 103. In order now to remove the laundry assumed to be on one ofthe shelves 58, 59, the operator first turns the handle 63a by about 90degrees so as to release the bent portion 63b from the slot 301'.Thereupon the operator while still grasping the handle 63a pulls thebasket toward herself {against the thrust of the spring 47. The spring47 is so dimensioned that only a slight effort is necessary to pull thebasket toward the operator. The operator pulls the basket downwardly sothat the respective shelf will be in easy reach of her whereupon sheremoves the respective laundry from the shelf. Thereupon she pushes thebasket upwardly again aided by the spring 4-7 and rests the outwardlybent ends 56a in the groove-like depression h of the respective hangerbracket, in this specific example, hanger bracket 5. Finally, theoperator turns the handle 6311 so as to cause the bent portion 63b toenter the slot 30f and to assume a vertical position thereby firmlylocking the basket upon the basket assembly pertaining thereto.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawings butalso comprises any modifications Within-the scope of the appendedclaims.

Thus, for instance, the tiltable arm may also be replaced by two armsstraddling the basket and pivotally connected thereto. Furthermore, thepivotal connection of the tiltable arm or arms with the basket need notnecessarily be at the top of the basket but can also be at a lower levelof the basket as long as it is above the center of gravity thereof. Alsothe hanger brackets may be of different shape. For instance, thedepression 30h may be omitted, and the hook 63b may engage anotherportion of the hanger bracket for locking the bracket in its elevatedposition.

What we claim is:

1. In combination in a garment conveyor: elevated endless track means, aplurality of carriages having hanger receiving and supporting means forreceiving and supporting hangers for garments to be suspended thereon,said carriages being movably mounted on said track means, supportingmembers mounted on said conveyor for movement with said carriages, eachof said supporting members including tiltable means, and shelfassemblies respectively supported by said tiltable means and normallyheld in elevated position above the level of said hanger receiving andsupporting means, each of said tiltable means being tiltableindividually to lower the respective shelf assembly supported therebyfrom the elevated position thereof' 2. In combination: endless trackmeans, supports supporting said track means and holding the same inelevated position, a plurality of carriages movably mounted on saidtrack means and arranged in series with regard to each other, link meansinterconnecting said carriages so as to move all carriages at one andthe same time, each of said carriages having hanger receiving means forreceiving and supporting hangers and garments suspended thereon, aplurality of supporting members respectively arranged for movement withsaid carriages and normally located above said carriages, each of saidsupporting members including tiltable means normally occupying asubstantially upright position, spring means respectively connected tosaid supporting members and continuously urging said tlitablemeans tooccupy the upright position thereof, and a plurality of shelf assembliessupported by said tiltable means, each of said tiltable means beingtiltable away from its upright position to lower the respective shelfassembly supported thereby to a lower level.

3. In combination in a garment conveyor: endless track means, supportssupporting said track means and holding the same in elevated position, aplurality of serially arranged interconnectedcarriages movably mountedon said track means, driving means for moving said carriagesQnsaid'trackmeans, eachofsaid carriages having; hanger:

receiving means for receiving and supporting hangers ing membersrespectively supported by said conveyor at a level above said carriagesand normally extending upwardly from saidcarriages, each of saidsupporting members including tiltable means, spring means respectively,connected to said supporting members and continuously urging saidtiltable means to occupy a substantially upright position, a pluralityof shelf assemblies supported by said tiltable means and normallyoccupying an elevated position higher than said carriages, each of saidtiltable, means being tiltable away from its upright position to lowerthe respective shelf assembly supported thereby to a lower level, and aplurality of locking means for respectively and selectively locking saidshelf assem bliss in their elevated position or releasing the sametherefrom.

4. 'In combination in a garment conveyor: elevated endless track means,a plurality of serially arranged interconnected carriages mounted onsaid track means and movable together thereon, said carriages beingadapted to receive and support hangers for garments to be suspendedthereon, a plurality of first supporting members respectively carried bysaid carriages for movement therewith, a plurality of second supportingmembers respectively pivotally connected to said first supportingmembers, a plurality of spring means respectively connected to saidfirst supporting members and the respective adjacent second supportingmembers and continuously urging said second supporting members to occupya substantially upright position, a plurality of basket means tiltablysupported by said second supporting members, said basket means normallyoccupying an elevated position and resting on the respective carriagepertaining thereto, each of said basket means being individuallytiltable downwardly away from said elevated position, motor means formoving said carriages along said track means, and control means adaptedto be set selectively for stopping said motor means in response to anyof said carriages reach ing a certain predetermined position to therebystop the respective carriage with the basket means pertaining thereto insaid position.

5. An arrangement according to clainr4, in which, said motor means is areversible'electric motor for selectively moving said carriages ineither direction.

6. An arrangement according to claim 4, which includes pre-settableinterrupter means electrically connected to said motor means forstopping said motor means in response to any one of said carriagesreaching a certain pre-selected. position.

7. In combination with a garment conveyor having a plurality ofcarriages movable on an elevated track: a plurality of supporting meansrespectively carried by said carriages and including tiltable means, aplurality of spring means respectively connected to said tiltable meansand continuously urging the same to occupy a substantial uprightposition, a plurality of shelf assemblies respectively pivotallysupported by said tiltable means, each of said shelf assemblies beingindividually tiltable downwardly parallel to itself about said carriageswhenever desired and comprising a plurality of shelves arranged inspaced superimposed relationship to each other.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, in which each of said supportingmeans includes an upright mounted on and connected to the respectivecarriage and also includes a tiltable arm having one end portionpivotally connected to said upright and having its other end portionpivotally connected to the respective shelf assembly.

9. In combination with a garment conveyor having a plurality of hangerbrackets movable on an elevated track: a plurality of supporting meansrespectively carried. by said hanger brackets and including tiltablemeans, a plurality of spring means respectively connected to saidtiltable means and continuously urging the sameto occupy asubstantiallyupri'ght position, a plurality of shelf assembliesrespectively pivotally supported by said tiltable means, each of saidshelf assemblies being individually tiltable downwardly parallel toitself and comprising a plurality of shelves arranged in spacedsuperimposed relationship to each other, and a plurality of lockingmeans respectively supported by the lower end of said shelf assembliesand operable selectively to engage the respective adjacent one of saidhanger brackets to thereby prevent tilting of the respective shelfassembly downwardly while preventing the bottom portion of therespective shelf assembly from swinging outwardly when passing through acurve or to disengage the respective adjacent hanger bracket to therebymake said locking means ineffective and allow downward tilting of therespective shelf assembly.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, in which each of said shelfassemblies comprises a wire frame and a plurality of shelves of spacedwires supported in vertically spaced arrangement by said frame andindividually detachable therefrom, each of said shelves being providedwith hook-shaped wire portions for detachable engagement with wireportions of said wire frame for selectively firmly securing said shelvesto or detaching the same from said frame.

11. In combination in a conveyor for laundry and dry cleaningestablishments: an endless track, supporting means supporting said trackat an elevated level, a plurality of carriages having hanger receivingand supporting means for receiving and supporting hangers for garmentsto be suspended thereon, said carriages being movably mounted on saidtrack means and extending laterally outwardly of said track incantilever manner, said hanger receiving and supporting means beinglocated near the outer ends of said carriages, a plurality of supportingmembers mounted on said carriages for movement therewith, each of saidsupporting members including tiltable means, and a plurality of shelfassemblies respectively supported by said tiltable means and normallyheld in elevated position above the level of said hanger receiving andsupporting means, each of said tiltable means being tiltableindividually to lower the respective shelf assembly supported therebysubstantially parallel to itself from the elevated position thereof.

12. In combination in a garment conveyor: elevated endless track means,a plurality of serially arranged interconnected carriages mounted onsaid track means and movable together thereon, said carriages beingadapted to receive and support hangers for garments to be suspendedthereon, a plurality of first supporting members respectively carried bysaid carriages for movement therewith, a plurality of second supportingmembers respecdetermined position to thereby stop the respectivecarriage with the support means pertaining thereto in said position.

13. In combination in a garment conveyor: elevated endless track means,a plurality of serially arranged interconnected carriages mounted onsaid track means and movable together thereon, said carriages beingadapted to receive and support hangers for garments to be suspendedthereon, a plurality of first supporting members respectively carried bysaid carriages for movement therewith, a plurality of second supportingmembers respectively connected to and above said first supportingmembers, a plurality of shelf assemblies respectively supported by saidsecond supporting members, said shelf assemblies normally occupying anelevated position above said first supporting members and resting on therespective carriage pertaining thereto, each of said shelf assembliesbeing individually movable downwardly parallel to itself away from saidelevated position, motor means for moving said carriages along saidtrack means, and control means adapted to be set selectively forstopping said motor means in response to any of said carriages reachinga certain predetermined position to thereby stop the respective carriagewith the shelf assembly pertaining thereto in said position.

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